PUTRAJAYA: After warning department heads that they will not be promoted if they fail to report misconduct by civil servants, the Prime Minister has pledged to defend public officers against those who question their actions in performing their duties.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said as long as civil servants carry out their responsibilities well and responsibly, he will not yield to pressure from critics or those questioning their work.
“There are instances where, when action is taken, we are pressured to act against those who do their job.
“I have told the Chief Secretary to the Government that we shall not do such a thing and will defend them (civil servants),” he said at the Finance Ministry’s monthly gathering yesterday.
“I guarantee you this. For as long as you do what is good and what is right, I will defend you,” he added.
The Prime Minister said his mandate to civil servants was clear: they must carry out their job responsibilities with integrity.
“You have a Prime Minister who will defend you. I will not succumb to pressure. You (civil servants) do your job,” he added.
On Monday at the Prime Minister’s Department monthly gathering, Anwar, disappointed over persistent malpractices and misconduct over the last few years, said there was an urgent need for department heads to shoulder greater responsibility and eradicate the culture of turning a blind eye to misconduct.
He said that it was impossible for department heads not to know since some practices had been going on for years, and questioned why they did not report these incidents.
The Prime Minister said he would recommend to the Chief Secretary to the Government that he stipulate that a department head or unit chief would not be promoted if it was known that the system under them was corrupt and not reported.
Anwar told Finance Ministry staff yesterday that he had received criticism for his decision to review the public service salary scheme.
“How can I not look at it when no changes have occurred for the past 12 years? We need to make a firm and bold move to look into the welfare and well-being of civil servants,” he added.
On May 1, the Prime Minister announced that civil servants would take home a minimum monthly income of RM2,000 under the revamped Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA).
Civil servants would receive a pay hike of over 13%, and the new salary scheme would take effect in December.
The government will allocate RM10 billion for the implementation of the SPPA next year.
